46 Gomatula of the Indian Seas. 



ZOOLOGY. 



[Communicated for insertion in this Journal.] 



Art. IX. — A group of Polypes, belonging to the family of 

 Comatula, with an extraordinary form and configuration 

 from the Indian Seas. 



[Specimen presented and description read to the New-York, Lyceum oi 

 Natural History, at its sitting in the Institution, on Monday, Feb. 25. 

 1822.] 



Gentlemen, 



My friend Mr. Covert, on a voyage from Canton to New- 

 York, during 1821, cast anchor with eighteen fathoms of 

 line (one hundred and eight feet) in the straits of Caspar, 

 situated to the eastward of the island of Banca. 



On hauling up the deep-sea-lead, two marine productions 

 which adhered, were brought on board the ship; one at- 

 tached to the weight below, and the other clinging to the 

 cord about ten feet from the bottom, or above the lead. 



Both the specimens were brought home in good condi- 

 tion, and presented to me. Though they seem to be indi- 

 viduals of the same species, it was observed that when they 

 were taken out of water, one of them appeared for a while 

 yellow, and the other blue. This was probably, while the 

 polypes were living, for after death, the colour became a 

 purplish brown, or of the hue belonging to many of the gor- 

 gonias. 



According to the modern classification, this singular and 

 elegant production, belongs to that tribe of the polypes 

 which makes floating or moveable habitations. 



The Comatulas are the most remarkable members of this 

 family. They have a calcarious or corneous axis. They 

 are not located in a spot, or fixed in a particular place, but 

 move or swim about. 



The one now presented, instead of a single feather, as 

 usual, consists of ten branches, proceeding from a common 

 base or centre, and diverging outwards with an easy slope, 

 makes a display like a coronet of plumes. Each is about 



